What: Come share some good food and meet your neighbours. Join us to celebrate Perth and Community. Please bring a dish to share (if you are financially able to), your won cutlery, plate and mug. Locally grown and raised ingredients always appreciated!

The second annual P'Earth Day parade will take place on Saturday April 22nd at 10 am. Kicking off from the bandshell behind town hall, the parade will make its merry way along Gore Street to Foster and head in to beautiful Stewart Park. The short walk will conclude near the bandshell with an update from a representative of the Perth Mayor's Task Force on Local Climate Change followed by a group sharing circle.

Dress up, sing along, decorate a sign, come rain or shine, let's celebrate P'Earth Day together on Saturday April 22nd!

Where: 58 Cockburn St, Perth. Right near the Fairgrounds.What: Let's get together to share some food and enjoy each other's company. This is a potluck. Please bring a dish to share. Also, please bring your own plate, cutlery and mug. See you then! :)

MORNINGMeeting at Perth Heritage Bikes and Rentals 39C Gore St East11am - For those who wish to rent a bike.11:30am sharp! - Start of the tourVisit 3 gardens including a large market garden, a small front garden and the Community and Edible Forest Gardens of The Table Community Food Centre.

LUNCHNext to The Table’s gardens12:30-1:45pm - Community Potluck. Bring a dish to share and your own cutlery and utensils.

AFTERNOONMeeting at 190 Gore Street East2pm sharp! - start of the afternoon tour at The Table Community Food Centre 190 Gore Street East.Visit 7 gardens including 3 backyard gardens, the Perth allotment gardens, the gardens at Perthworks and a large garden designed with permaculture principles.

IMPORTANT: This year, we are collaborating with Perth Heritage Bikes and Rentals to do a biking Veggie Garden Tour! If you need to rent a bike, you will find more information here.

Pleae help us spread the work by downloading a flyer and posting it in your workplace or wherever appropriate, thanks!

Where: Mc Martin House (downstairs basement), 125 Gore St E, PerthWhat: FOCUS: What if WE were to have a Town Hall Meeting on the Leap Manifesto here in Perth?

As you know the NDP has called for ridings to consider the Leap Manifesto at the local level. Transition Perth has heard from two OTHER national parties that think that a "town hall" meeting in Perth to get public input around the Manifesto would be a great thing. The NDP would likely have many reps in too, but your reported didn't happen to meet with them.

Beyond party politics, what if Perth was to hold a Town Hall meeting, likely organized in a World Cafe format, to dramatically raise awareness of this initiative. Dangerous times call for bold moves!

Even if you don't normally come out, come to the meeting at McMartin House Tuesday May 17th, 6:30 PM. If it's to be, it's up to we!

What: Come share some good food and meet your neighbours. Join us to celebrate Perth and Community. Please bring a dish to share (if you are financially able to), your won cutlery, plate and mug. Locally grown and raised ingredients always appreciated!

It's Spring, time for celebration!It's Earth Day, a time to celebrate our one-and-only home planet.Perth is celebrating Earth Day this year with a proper celebration! We will inaugurate the new Perth Community Garden at the southern end of Rogers Rd (south of Scotch Line).ALL COMMUNITY-GARDEN GARDENERS are WARMLY encouraged to come out, bring your children. A fruit tree and cold-hardy seeds will be planted so the garden can start growing!Everyone - please consider yourself part of this celebration and bring out your noisemakers and fun-loving creative spirit to join in. It's Earth Day, it's Spring, it's Perth! P'Earth Day!Featuring:

A wee parade leaves the Table (190 Gore St. E., Perth) at 6:00 PM - join some of us eating at the table before (open 4:30 to 6 PM) - and proceeds to the Garden on Rogers Rd South, with noisemakers, music, decorated umbrellas. Earth-themed costumes are encouraged and human-powered bikes, wagons or floats are encouraged

Inauguration of the Garden with mini-plantings, SKITS, music featuring Isaac Matthews, and fun

A special appearance by the astonishing KEVIN, the Climate Change Dog. Amazingly at special events Kevin is able by the way he acts, to predict the climate change future. You won't want to miss Kevin as his behaviour accurately predicts your tomorrows on Planet Earth. KEVIN's prognostication will take place around 7:00 (after he's had time to wind down a bit from the excitement and get into it).

Students, groups of friends, etc. are invited to put together a little skit on some Earth-loving theme

Free workshop at 11am - Robbie Preston "How to reduce water usage in your garden, save our wetlands and have a better garden with less work". All workshops are upstairs at the legion and seating is limited!Free workshop at 12 noon - Kathleen Lang, Horticulturalist, will speak on tips to starting seeds of all kinds. She can answer your questions if you have had problems in the past, or if you are new to seed starting. A great resource! As well, the Horticulture Society and Master Gardeners will be at the event and can help you out!Free workshop at 1pm - with Bonita Ford (Permaculturalist) Edible Forest Gardens: Gardening Like Nature with PermacultureInterested in growing more of your own food and doing less work, while taking care of the soil and water, creating natural spaces for the animals and supporting healthier ecosystems? In permaculture (ecological design), we aim to mimic Nature. Our gardens can provide food, medicine, firewood, building materials, habitat, microclimates, privacy and beauty. Learn about "edible forest gardens" with useful trees, shrubs and perennial herbs.Free workshop at 2pm- Saving seeds with Robert and Carol Mouck. Expert seed savers will give you step by step instruction on how to save seeds of all kinds! We left this one to last because they have so much information to share! Seating is limited.

Where: The Table, 190 Gore Street East, Perth.What: These are fun and informal meetings planning next steps for a spring/summer 2016 launch of a new community garden space in Perth. Experience not necessary, just a willingness to be creative, collaborate with others, and spend some time outdoors. Something for everyone, and all are welcome!

What: Let's get together to share some food and enjoy each other's company. These potlucks are very popular and building a network of friends. We invite you to invite a friend! Please bring a dish to share. Also, please bring your own plate, cutlery and mug.

What: Let's get together to share some food and enjoy each other's company. These potlucks are very popular and building a network of friends. This month, we invite you to invite a friend! Please bring a dish to share. Also, please bring your own plate, cutlery and mug.

Where: 71 Halton St, Perth. Right near the Fairgrounds opposite Queen Elizabeth school.What: Let's get together to share some food and enjoy each other's company. This is a potluck. Please bring a dish to share. Also, please bring your own plate, cutlery and mug. See you then! :)

Wrap up your garden and get a good start for next year by learning how to make compost! Composting encourages beneficial organisms and gives your garden a healthy boost. We will have fun in this hands-on class and will learn about backyard and worm composting.Facilitator: Sébastien Bacharach, a composting educator with over 10 years of experience.Cost: by donationLocation: in Perth. Exact location given after sign up and a few days before the workshop.

This workshop is organised by the Permaculture Institute of Eastern Ontario.Sign up here.

A monthly men’s meeting for men of any age (teens, twenties . . . nineties), whatever kind you are is the right kind. Find out more about what’s up for your brothers and (if you choose to) build community by saying what’s up for you. Structured, respectful, non-religious or activist. First Wednesday evening of each month in Perth. Call for directions or info 613.267.8308. Hey and if this notice sounds good to you, please share!

What: Ecstatic dance is a journey of self-guided moving meditation, a non-structured and spontaneous feeling through the music to what's alive in the body. This can be a sacred journey into ourselves, taken with others who respect mutual needs for space, safety and acceptance, so that we can explore the energy that wants to move through the body. And this can also be about simply sharing the joy of dancing together! Come move with us.

Wear comfortable clothing and bring anything you might need.

$5 (goes for the rental of the space--no one's making any money here, folks!)

Randy Weekes will talk about the design principles, the choices he made and the lessons he learned from building his own simple but efficient deydrator, followed by a Q and A session with lots of time to look more closely at his own model.

Ladies and gentlemen, reach for your reading glasses, if you need them! The Transition Perth Non-fiction Book Club is now on. It will meet on the third Monday of every third month starting August 17th this summer. (And then November, February, May . ...) We'll discuss books with a more radical, and leftist perspective (not gardening books, for example). The next book will be selected by members at each meeting.

The first book on tap is The Wages of Rebellion, by Chris Hedges. There's a copy at Perth Library, undoubtedly one in the Kingston system if you're a member. There's one on loan through a club-member's Kindle, by request. For this particular book, because there's a lot of related material from Chis Hedges, you may read / watch / listen to familiarize yourself with the ideas and come join in the discussion.

RSVP if you'd like to attend Monday, August 17th, 2015. (Andrew: 613.267.8308 or andrewcartermacdonald [at] gmail [dot] com) Details of the Perth location will be posted to you.

What: Come share some good food and meet your neighbours. Join us to celebrate Perth and Community. Please bring a dish to share (if you are financially able to), your won cutlery, plate and mug. Locally grown and raised ingredients always appreciated!

Join us at one of the meeting places and we'll tour the gardens together. We invite you to walk, bike or carpool. All are welcome!

The Transition Perth veggie garden tour is now in its fifth edition! :) This year's tour will feature some new as well as some gardens we have visited in the past.

MORNING MEETING 10am at The Table, 190 Gore St. PerthVisit 5+ gardens including a large market garden, 2 backyard gardens, a small front garden and the Community and Edible Forest Gardens of The Table Community Food Centre.

COMMUNITY POTLUCK 12:30pm at The Table CFC Community gardens, Last Duel Park at South Street, PerthBring a dish to share and your own cutlery and utensils. Home grown and local ingredients are encouraged!

AFTERNOON MEETING 2pm at 2 Arthur St. PerthVisit 6 gardens, from new to established, including 2 backyard gardens, the gardens at Perthworks and a large garden designed with permaculture principles.

Please help us spread the word by downloading the PDF flyer and posting it in your workplace and/or sending it to your friends. Thanks!

Transition Perth is offering a free spring basic bicycle tune-up workshop again this year on Sat. May 16 at the Market in the crystal palace.Time: 10 am to 1 pmParticipants will learn how to clean chains, tighten brakes and repair or replace tubes themselves.Bring a replacement tube if you think yours might be damaged.Tools are provided.

Where: McMartin House, 125 Gore St E, PerthWhat: Ecstatic dance is a journey of self-guided moving meditation, a spontaneous feeling through the music to what's alive in the body, and an honouring of our being human on this planet at this time. Please wear comfortable clothing and bring anything you might need. Invite your friends! $5

When: May 2nd 2015, 1 PMWhere: Perth Community Labyrinth in Stewart Park, across the river by the treesWhat: "Walk as One at 1" guided labyrinth walk in celebration of 7th Annual World Labyrinth Day. Walk the labyrinth with people around the world at 1PM (local time) to celebrate the labyrinth as a symbol and tool for healing and peace. Event runs from 12 PM to 2:30 with a Welcome at 12:30 for first-time labrinth walkers. Perth Community Labyrinth in Stewart Park is a project of Transition Perth with the support of the Town of Perth and the YAK Youth Services 2015 cohort.

What: Get a good start this Spring and learn how to make compost! Composting encourages beneficial organisms and gives your garden a healthy boost. We will have fun in this hands-on class and will learn about backyard and worm composting.Facilitator: Sébastien Bacharach, a composting educator with over 10 years of experience.Cost: by donation.Where: Perth. Details sent by email the week of the workshop when you sign up.

Where: 28 Church Street, PerthWhat: Let's get together to share some food and enjoy each other's company. This is a potluck. Please bring a dish to share. Also, please bring your own plate, cutlery and mug. See you then! :)

Where: Mc Martin House, 125 Gore St E, Perth.What: At our last meeting, we defined some awesome events we want to organise this Summer. Let's talk about those again and see how everything is coming along.

Where: 3628 Hwy 43 W, just outside Smiths Falls on the way to Perth. Warning! Relying on Google Map will put you on the wrong side of town! What: The Sod Squad is an affiliate group that came from the Transition Perth Gift Circles initiative. Basically we get 6-10 people (or more) to come and blitz member’s gardens. We’re expecting to continue and grow the operation in 2015 (pun intended!). Newcomers always welcome.The project Vanessa and Mike have in mind will ideally occupy a lot of bodies but not need too much brute strength or garden tools!So come one, come all! Come and help in the garden from 2.00 on and stay for the potluck after that starting at 5.30. Spouses, kids, well-behaved pets all welcome even if just to finally enjoy a get together in spring weather.

For more information feel free to call Vanessa or Mike at (613) 205-1179.

Join us for this special meeting where we will be planning events for this Summer and potential new projects that we would like to take on this year. We will be identifying and choosing the projects and forming teams to make those happen. No experience necessary, just you enthusiasm! :)

Where: 2 Arthur Street, PerthWhat: Let's get together to share some food and enjoy each other's company. This is a potluck. Please bring a dish to share. Also, please bring your own plate, cutlery and mug. See you then! :)

The Perth Farmers' Market hosts their annual SEEDY SUNDAY at the Legion in Perth (26 Beckwith St. East). FREE admission, FREE workshops. At 11 am Telsing Andrews of Aster Lane edibles will speak on edible perennials and will make you see your garden in a whole new light. At 1pm enjoy learning about the art of Fabric Sculpting for the garden. This was introduced to Eastern Canada by Dutch-born artist, Tineke Doornbosch. It's a Dutch art that Tineke learned in Holland and is the ultimate in recycling. Still waiting on a final workshop for 12 pm...A wide array of booths for you to see and they include seed sellers, farmers, crafters,and community groups. Don't forget to check out the Seeds of Diversity table - the organization who started the Seedy Saturday/Sunday events. There is also a swap table - for those of you who collect seeds but think you have too many, bring the extra in envelopes and leave for someone else to take. Seeds that you purchased but don't think you'll use up are also great!

Where: 71 Halton Street, PerthWhat: Let's get together to share some food and enjoy each other's company. This is a potluck. Please bring a dish to share, a drink to share if you would like one. Please also bring cutlery and a plate.

Where: 1 Grant street, PerthWhat: Let's get together to share some food and enjoy each other's company. This is a potluck. Please bring a dish to share, a drink to share if you would like one. Please also bring cutlery and a plate.

Where: Mc Martin House, 125 Gore St E, PerthWhat: Join us at Mc Martin House and participate in making Perth an awesome town for the next hundred years (at least)! This will be our last meeting of the year, so if getting involved was on your 2014 New Year's Resolution list, this is your last chance! ;)See you then!

What: Join us at Mc Martin House and participate in making Perth an awesome town for the next hundred years (at least)! :) This month, we will discuss Community and what Community means to us.See you then!

The Lanark Wild Food Club will be hosting a garlic mustard harvest on Sunday November 16. Learn about wild food while promoting conservation. For location and directions please visit their website at LanarkWFC.com and see the events listings. Happy harvesting and learning about more wild food in our community!

Are you committed to building a stronger Lanark County?Would you like to participate in a free workshop to discuss Social Enterprise as a tool for Non-Profits?Do you have a business idea that a non-profit agency could use?Are you interested in sustainability?Want to learn about a variety of social enterprises including local ones operated by YAK, BBBS and Operation Come Home?

This Intro to Social Enterprise Workshop will feature a panel presentation including Tanis Cowan and youth from YAK, Jennifer Miller from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lanark County, Business Dean Dave Donaldson from Algonquin College's Woodroffe Campus, and SSW grad Natalie Elliott from Operation Come Home in Ottawa. SSW student poster projects can be viewed and there will be facilitated focus groups to discuss ideas and opportunities.

This Workshop is being co-sponsored by Algonquin College Perth Campus and the Perth Civitan Club who will be providing free refreshments and lunch.

In 2004, thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers from all four corners, moved by their concern for our planet, came together at a historic gathering, where they decided to form an alliance: The International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers. This is their story. Four years in-the-making and shot on location in the Amazon rainforest, the mountains of Mexico, North America, and at a private meeting with the Dalai Lama in India, For the Next 7 Generations follows what happens when these wise women unite. Facing a world in crisis, they share with us their visions of healing and a call for change now, before it's too late. This film documents their unparalleled journey and timely perspectives on a timeless wisdom.

Grandmother's Mission Statement:

"We, the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers, represent a global alliance of prayer, education and healing for our Mother Earth, all her inhabitants, all the children, and for the next seven generations to come. We are deeply concerned with the unprecedented destruction of our Mother Earth and the destruction of indigenous ways of life. We believe the teachings of our ancestors will light the way through an uncertain future. We look to further our vision through the realization of projects that protect our diverse cultures: lands, medicines, language and ceremonial ways of prayer and through projects that educate and nurture our children."

Bring your bikes for help with basic maintenance including how to tighten brakes, true a wheel, change a tire or tube. This free workshop is held monthly behindThe Table Community Food Centre and is a collaboration between the Community Action Network and Transition Perth volunteers who want to encourage a sustainable bicycle culture in Perth. Rain date: Sunday Aug.9, 2-5 pm same -lace.Contact Peggy at land58peggy[at]gmail[dot]com for more information.

Transition Perth volunteers Vanessa Compton, Mike Fletcher, Sharon Teed, and Susanne Wallner created a seven circuit labyrinth for the enjoyment of the Stewart Park Music Festival 2014 community, using simple geometry tools and a spray paint wand. The work crew was visited by local police officer Bird, who cycled over to investigate a report of "seniors vandalising the park with spray paint graffiti" - a highlight of the installation process!

Over 200 festival goers of all ages walked, ran, danced, and wheeled through the labyrinth. Facilitator Vanessa Compton answered many questions about its purpose, design, construction, and future in Stewart Park. Most poignant were questions from children: on being told that many schools now have labyrinths for kids to use when needing a quiet safe place for settling conflicts and dealing with hard things like exams, bullying, or troubles at home, they nodded in agreement - Yes, they could use something like that.

Plans are afoot for next year's festival activities - how about a semi-permanent mowed labyrinth - a soccer ball race - a dance with a drum circle? This year's enthusiastic response promises good things!

On Saturday July 26, 2014 we toured over 7 gardens. We enjoyed the diversity of the gardens, from the small ones at Brian's and also at Joe's to the bigger ones like Andrew's and the Table's. The hosts were all helpful and glad to answer questions. The walk between places allowed folks to socialize. And last but not least, we enjoyed another great potluck! Thanks to the Table Community Food Center gardeners for hosting the potluck!

Take Highway 7 west of Perth and turn left on Cameron Sideroad, or take Christie Lake road (Sunset Boulevard) west from Perth, and turn right on Cameron Sideroad. We hope to do the potluck outside with a campfire, and can move into the yurt when the mosquitos come out.

In times to come human beings will have to exist the one for the other and not the one through the other.Thus is reached the world's ultimate aim: that each one is with themselves and each would give to the other what none would demand.Rudolph Steiner

We're inviting you as always to the upcoming Transition Perth group meeting. Let's call it our Solstice Meeting! It's happening on Monday June 23rd at McMartin House in Perth from 6:30-8:30pm.

The Transition Perth group meetings are happening monthly, and what a great way to spend an evening! The place and time may be the same but lots is changing and morphing from month to month. New project ideas, new faces, new ways to listen to and engage with one another to effectively help Perth transition towards greater community resilience and well being.

Last month we made plans to start up a weekly Summer bike parade. We also delegated tasks for the planning of the upcoming Veggie Garden Tour, and consensus was reached with regard to using some funds to create Transition Perth t-shirts.It looks like we'll be participating at The Stewart Park Festival this year as well with an info booth, and the Perth Bicycle Collective launched itself to great enthusiasm at The Farmers Market. The Giving Harvest group is also gearing up, and the Gift Circle group is meeting regularly and creating new inspiration, spawning a new group called The Sod Squad!

There will be a new face co-facilitating the next meeting too. The coordinating committee printed a facilitator's guideline that was handed out last month, and voila, a new co-facilitator!We take great delight in, and encourage, the sharing of roles, and hope that the facilitator's guideline helps people feel supported and at ease when transitioning into that role.

Please join us this month for another warm and welcoming Solstice evening spent together.In sharing, listening, planning, implementing, and supporting one another, Perth and community becomes the change we want to see :)

A gift circle is an open circle where people come to help each other, and share their needs and services. People share their services and help as a gift, without expectation of anything in return. The purpose of a gift circle is to allow people to help each other and to create a sense of community. And to further the gift economy.

"The only gift I have to give, is the ability to receive. If giving is a gift, and it surely is, then my gift to you is to allow you to give to me. "― Jarod Kintz, The Titanic would never have sunk if it were made out of a sink.

When: May 20, 2014 10am -9pmWhere: 60 South street Perth (right across the street from the school by the fair grounds)What: seedling swap 10 am - 5pm and bbq 5pm- 6pm gift circle 6pm to 9 pm Children are welcome thruought the day we have a large fence yard they can play inQuestions: aabacuscatering [at] gmail [dot] com or 613 316 1992Directions: heading towards Rideau ferry turn right onto South street (also called South Scotch line ) we are the wihte brick house with the re maple and child swing in the front yard if you get to the school cross walk you have gone just a bit too far.

A gift circle is an open circle where people come to help each other, and share their needs and services. People share their services and help as a gift, without expectation of anything in return. The purpose of a gift circle is to allow people to help each other and to create a sense of community. And to further the gift economy.

"The only gift I have to give, is the ability to receive. If giving is a gift, and it surely is, then my gift to you is to allow you to give to me. "― Jarod Kintz, The Titanic would never have sunk if it were made out of a sink.

Well, Spring has finally sprung! Hope everyone is feeling renewed and re-energized, and ready to meet each other again on Tuesday May 27th at McMartin House in Perth. The meeting time is 6:30-8:30,pm and the kitchen is available for tea, and/or accomodating your dinner if you choose to bring it along this time.

The meeting agenda will cover updates from the resilience groups, dialogue around plans for Transition summer events, a continuation of the small group sharing circle, handing out a facilitator's guideline for those of you who'd enjoy filling that role, (once, or as many times as you'd like), and anything else folks feel they'd like to bring to the table.

How about starting a new group around organizing community outreach re: education about resilience in light of peak oil and climate change? What about demonstrating a more radical approach to engage the community? Or P.R stategies for collaboration with other community organizations and town council ? These were some of the exciting idea's we shared during the last meeting, and further developing them together could be great!

It's always wonderful to hear all the heartfelt input and feel the creative energy from those of you who've attended the Transition Perth group meetings. There's still lots to share and discuss and do, so hope to see you all again, old and new :) Everyone is welcome on Tuesday May 27, and always.

When: May 11, 2014 11am -2pmWhere: 218 Christie Lake North Shore rdWhat: Potluck 11 am - noon and Gift Circle noon - 2pm - Children are welcome for the potluck and a playdate in parallel with the Gift CircleQuestions:

or 264-1531

Directions: About 15km west of Perth. Take Christie Lake rd (Sunset Boulevard) out of Perth and turn right on Christie Lake North Shore rd (2km past Dewitt's Corners). Drive past Elliot rd, take the second driveway on the right (shared with 220, 218 is on the right).

A gift circle is an open circle where people come to help each other, and share their needs and services. People share their services and help as a gift, without expectation of anything in return. The purpose of a gift circle is to allow people to help each other and to create a sense of community. And to further the gift economy.

"The only gift I have to give, is the ability to receive. If giving is a gift, and it surely is, then my gift to you is to allow you to give to me. "― Jarod Kintz, The Titanic would never have sunk if it were made out of a sink.

The Perth Bicycle Collective is ready to roll! Piotr Pawlowski and Peggy Land are co-leaders for the project which aims to encourage a cycling culture in Perth by offering monthly basic maintenance workshops to the public and to encourage safe cycling in collaboration with the OPP's Community Services Officer, David Bird.Participants will be shown how to clean their chains, tighten their brakes, patch or replace a tube and true a wheel by themselves. They are encouraged to bring their own tools and parts if possible but some tools will be on hand.The workshops are free and will be held on Saturday May 24 indoors at the Crystal Palace, 10-1pm during the Farmers Market when safety information will also be available.Other dates are: Saturdays 2-5 pm behind The Table at 190 Gore Street, (Sundays same time if it rains on Saturday, but not if it is also raining that time on Sunday), on June 7, July 12, Aug. 9, and Sept. 13.Bring your bikes and any tools, and be prepared to get to work!For more information contact Piotr at

Come help Perth grow into the sustainable and resilient town our hearts know is possible.

Your voice is important and Transition Perth needs to hear it!

We invite your participation in the spirit of getting things done collectively. Together we could be the change we want to see, with a united force of spring energy and beauty!

Come to hear updates about current community group projects. Come to initiate a project, or join an existing project and/or committee. Come to bring whatever it is you'd like to bring whilst bringing out the best in you and those around you! Together let's help Perth transition toward a well-rooted resilience and sustainability.

Second of two workshops. This one is about designing our lives once we connect with the finiteness of our lives and know our purpose and what brings us alive. Cost: an experiment in gift economy.

Location: Perth, ON (register for details)

Cost: this workshop is being offered as a gift - see below

Welcome to the Living by Design workshops...

I imagine that you are someone who:

Is really concerned about the health of the planet and the state of the worldReally cares about the well-being of your loved ones, your community and yourselfWants to live more meaningfully and make the world more beautiful (maybe you know how you want to do this or maybe you're not clear about this yet)

Are you interested in (re)designing your life with intention? You might appreciate:

Making decisions about your life (family, community, home, food, energy, livelihood, creative endeavours and more) to align with what really matters to youCreating change in your lifestyle (small or large) to be more sustainable, life-enriching and abundantFeeding your vision of the life you want to liveClarifying the needs you want to meetNoticing the resources available to youConsidering where you currently invest your energy and timeRedesigning where you invest your energy and time to be more intentional and effectiveConsidering potential crises and back-up plans for more resilienceMaking a plan for actionLearning from permaculture design, nature and Nonviolent Communication

Gifting:I am offering these workshops as an intentional gift to you and to our world.

I ask you to receive this gift intentionally. Please notice what it nourishes in you and what value it brings to your life.

If you would enjoy giving a gift out of gratitude or celebration, and/or to contribute to my livelihood and my work in the world, I would be very delighted to receive your gift. Please read more details about my gift in the workshop info document.

Is really concerned about the health of the planet and the state of the worldReally cares about the well-being of your loved ones, your community and yourselfWants to live more meaningfully and make the world more beautiful (maybe you know how you want to do this or maybe you're not clear about this yet)

Are you interested in living with passion and meaning? You might appreciate:

Connecting with your life passion and learning to follow itConsidering the finiteness of our lives and choosing the legacy you want to leaveCultivating presence with "what is"Expressing gratitude for what you have todayLooking at the state of the world and honouring what it brings up in youFollowing your feelings to connect with what is meaningful to youSharing support with like-minded peopleClarifying what your best life looks likeNourishing the seed of your intentionsLearning from Nonviolent Communication, nature connection, EFT/tapping, aikido, Reiki, hospice work, and Joanna Macy

Gifting:I am offering these workshops as an intentional gift to you and to our world.

I ask you to receive this gift intentionally. Please notice what it nourishes in you and what value it brings to your life.

If you would enjoy giving a gift out of gratitude or celebration, and/or to contribute to my livelihood and my work in the world, I would be very delighted to receive your gift. Please read more details about my gift in the workshop info document.

Cost: Admission free, donations welcomeWhat: Three speakers, followed by question and answers. You may submit your questions in advance to

Speakers: Andrea Harden, Council of CanadiansIan Angus, Sustainable North GrenvilleBen Powless, Ecology Ottawa. Moderated by Alfred Von MirbachWhy: This pipeline could have major environmental and economic implications for this region and for Canada's energy future. The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) is beginning a public consultation process on the Energy East proposal, and REAL is encouraging citizens to submit their comments, or attend one of the OEB meetings in the region.More Information:http://www.REALaction.ca/energyeast

A gift circle is an open circle where people come to help each other, and share their needs and services. People share their services and help as a gift, without expectation of anything in return. The purpose of a gift circle is to allow people to help each other and to create a sense of community. And to further the gift economy.

We will share a potluck dinner in the house if the weather is bad or at the fire pit if the weather is warm.

Directions: About 12km west of Perth on Highway 7, go south on Cameron Sideroad. Cross the railroad tracks, pass the church and take the next driveway on the left. Or take Christie Lake Rd (Sunset Boulevard) out of Perth and turn north onto Cameron Sideroad.

"The only gift I have to give, is the ability to receive. If giving is a gift, and it surely is, then my gift to you is to allow you to give to me. "― Jarod Kintz, The Titanic would never have sunk if it were made out of a sink.

There is a need to raise awarenss about how climate change is and will affect our area and the rest of the world. Also a need for local planning to mitigate and adapt to the climate change, something that is lacking at all levels of government. Please join this group if you are interested in helping to meet these goals.Contact Person: Peggy Land Email: allisconnectedeh [at] yahoo [dot] ca

Ontario residents would be wise to find out how the Energy East Pipeline is going to affect us. If we want any changes made, now is the time to make our suggestions, before the pipeline is approved.

The Ontario Energy Board will be holding public consultations in March and April to assess Ontario's position, and will present their conclusions to the National Energy Board, who ultimately must give their approval for the pipeline to proceed.

TransCanada wants to convert its existing natural gas pipeline, which passes through our backyard in North Grenville and under the Rideau River, to carry bitumen and other forms of crude oil. It is not clear if this pipeline, built in the 1970's, can handle the material. Leaks are inevitable, cleanups costly, and the potential for contaminating water supplies a major concern.

On a national basis, it is not clear how much of this oil will be used in Canada and how much will be exported. Should Canadians be accepting economic, health and environmental risks for a project that will profit oil companies?

So, is this pipeline a good thing for Ontario? Is it better to transport oil by rail or pipeline? Could our local water supplies be affected? People are wondering if we are encouraging further tar sands development and greenhouse gas emissions by allowing this project to go ahead. Will we be facing natural gas shortages as a result? And are we making enough effort to develop alternative energy supplies?

To help answer some of these questions, the Rideau Environmental Action League (REAL) is hosting a public information session on Wednesday, March 12 at the Station Theatre, Smiths Falls. Andrea Harden, from the Council of Canadians, Ian Angus, of Sustainable North Grenville, and Ben Powless, of Ecology Ottawa, will present their thoughts, and a question period will follow. If you have particular questions you would like answered, you are invited to submit them to REAL at

in advance of evening.

Doors open at 6:30. Brief videos on pipelines, energy and the tar sands will be shown from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m., when our MC will introduce the speakers. Admission is free, but donations to cover costs are welcome. The evening is anticipated to wrap up about 8:30 p.m. More details on the evening will be available on REAL's website www.REALaction.ca.

REAL is a volunteer non-profit organization, based in Smiths Falls and serving Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, that encourages individuals and communities to take environmental action.

A gift circle is an open circle where people come to help each other, and share their needs and services. People share their services and help as a gift, without expectation of anything in return. The purpose of a gift circle is to allow people to help each other and to create a sense of community. And to further the gift economy.

"The only gift I have to give, is the ability to receive. If giving is a gift, and it surely is, then my gift to you is to allow you to give to me. "― Jarod Kintz, The Titanic would never have sunk if it were made out of a sink.

Perth Community Labyrinth Project is a group of people interested in healing environments and movement meditation who are working to research, plan, and bring into being a permanent outdoor community labyrinth in the Town of Perth, Lanark Co., ON, Canada.Contact person: Vanessa ComptonEmail: vanessacompton1 [at] gmail [dot] com

Perth Community Labyrinth is growing! Last year's Transition Perth project took the form of a 7 circuit Classical labyrinth, spray-painted in an act of "senior graffiti vandalism" (Officer Bird's tongue-in-cheek description) for the duration of the Stewart Park Festival.

This year, with the support of the Town of Perth Community Services, we are collaborating with YAK Youth Services Skills Link 2015 cohort to install and maintain a mown turf labyrinth for the community's use all summer! It will be located in the park across the bridge in the area by the trees where the Festival Workshops are held.

The design will be installed with flagging tape on the afternoon of Wednesday April 29th, from 2 till 6.

Then, the new labyrinth will be inaugurated Saturday May 2nd between 12 and 2:30 as we celebrate our participation in the 7th Annual World Labyrinth Day.

This international event, sponsored by The Labyrinth Society, is designed to unite people all over the world as they walk a labyrinth in a meditation for peace and healing, everyone walking at 1 PM local time.

Once mowing season gets underway, the YAK team has agreed to keep the labyrinth trimmed right through the summer. Turf labyrinths can last for years, if they are kept maintained. Hopefully the labyrinth will prove to be such a benefit to the Town that the next step, installing a permanent flagstone version in time for Perth's 200th anniversary, will be an easy decision.

Please come out and support the YAK team - help out on Wednesday April 29th when we prepare the site and install the pattern. Come celebrate together on World Labyrinth Day. Visit during Stewart Park Festival. Walk the labyrinth at your leisure anytime during the summer. Questions? Contact Vanessa 613-205-1179.

The Lanark Eco-Village project aims to build a domestic ecosystem capable of providing its residents with comfortable dwelling and a perpetual food supply, without an ongoing need for fossil fuels. The settlement will be dedicated to helping others do the same.Contact person: Mike Nickerson Email and phone: sustain5 [at] web [dot] ca - (613) 482-1208http://www.superaje.com/~sustain5/letter.html

The Giving Harvest is a Perth based initiative that will be harvesting untended fruit and nut trees on private and public property. The harvests will be distributed to organizations in the area that are working towards food security and more, such as The Table, with a percentage distributed to the harvesters and the property owners. Young fruit trees will be available for sale later in the season as part of expanding the edible fruits available locally. Volunteers most welcome.Contact person: Donna SilverEmail: donnasilver [at] mac [dot] com

This projects aims at creating an online newspaper written and updated by the community. The goal is to fill a need in the community for greater coverage of local news and opinion. This is an attempt at citizen journalism for the Perth and District area.Contact person: Sébastien BacharachEmail: sebastien [at] sebastienbacharach [dot] com

A gift circle is an open circle where people come to help each other, and share their needs and services. People share their services and help as a gift, without expectation of anything in return. The purpose of a gift circle is to allow people to help each other and to create a sense of community. And to further the gift economy.Contact person: Sébastien BacharachEmail: sebastien [at] sebastienbacharach [dot] com

Provides a place, opportunity to share use of tools and experience for basic bike maintenance tasks including chain cleaning, patching or replacing tubes, tightening brakes and trueing wheels/spokes alignment. Periodic workshops to be held Saturday afternoons starting in May, hopefully just behind The Table Community Food Centre, where tools might also be stored.... finalized details to follow. Looking for a co-leader for this project!

We are going to establish and identify with a decal locations where people can refill their water bottles for free with clean municipal water. Locations can be businesses, town buildings, museums, parks etc.

We are finally ready to convene a gathering to explore what we would like to do with this idea. We are sharing some links below. Please take some time to read them, especially if you have not seen them before. They refer to the original idea about the giftcircle. However, the group will decide what we make of it...

We are suggesting we hold this first gathering at the Code's Mill Atrium in Perth. In the future, it would be great to be able to meet in someone's home to have more privacy and comfort.

Watch this short video showing a typical gathering of the Oakland Gift Circle:

Please join us for another gathering of Transitioners. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 4, at McMartin House, 125 Gore Street (at Harvey), starting at 6:30 p.m.and running until 9 p.m. Signs will be posted directing you to the room we're in.

We will hear about what the wide array of groups have been up to. Here are some samples of the kind of groups that are forming: Community Art & Labyrinth Project, Bike Co-op, The Giving Harvest, Water Bottle Refill Stations, Edible Gardens and much more.

If you're looking for a project to become involved in, this is a good place and time to find out how to become a part of shaping and sharing the future. So, whether you are already part of a group, interested in hearing about the progress, or looking to join or even create a meaningful endeavor in this new year, please join us on February 4.

This workshop covers what must be considered when establishing a garden. These include, but are not limited to, slope, N/S, E/W alignment, convenience, access, storage, water, comfort. We can imagine a perfect garden and then consider what must be done to make our 'Imperfect" garden as useful as possible. We will also begin to list what foods we want to grow, learn about crop rotations, and discuss the kinds of seeds available.

The workshop will be run by Jeremy Dutton, Lead Gardener at The Table who has 30+ years of market-gardening experience

Maureen Bostock, of Sweet Meadow Farm, will join us to talk about the importance of growing organically and of choosing organic seeds.

Join us every second Wednesday of the month, at THE TABLE COMMUNITY FOOD CENTRE for DINNER AND A MOVIE. Dinner is 4:30-6pm. Introductions and discussion 6pm-6:30pm. Movie begins at 6:30pm.

This month Dinner and a Movie is collaborating with Transitions Perth to bring a special feature documentary to The Table called Another Life Is Possible - Homage to Catalonia II https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PqvBp3Qe0s#t=1759 A documentary, a research project, a story of stories about the construction of a sustainable, solidary and decentralized economy. Weaving nets that overcome the individualization and the hierarchical division of work. Thousands of people every day all over the world. Here and now.

"Homage to Catalonia II" is a documentary that is part of an academic research project. We investigate new economic cultures, new forms of living and of understanding the economy. For the IN 3, the High School Institute of Research of the University Open to Catalonia.

We study the social impact of the economics|economies that do not follow the patterns of the market, where profits are the priority, and that have the satisfaction of the needs and the desires for the persons as a goal.

A project of Joana Conill, Manuel Castells and Àlex Ruiz produced by IN3 under a Creative Commons license. This is the English version, there are also versions in Catalan and Spanish.

"Homage to Catalonia II" is a tool for research. Not a finished, conclusive and closed work, but a work in progress. We want this documentary to be open to everybody, in and out of the university realm, that's why it has a Creative Commons license.

Community Action Training is a 12 week course that explores the root causes of poverty and inequality while building skill sets in effective communication, conflict resolution, goal setting, storytelling, boundaries and self-care. Topics covered include:

Social Determinants of Health

Nonviolent communication

Social Justice Movements

Advocacy

Community Resources

This group is open to lower income community members only. Participants will receive gift cards for food and transportation for each session they attend. Graduates of the program are eligible to apply to become Peer Advocates in the Community Advocacy Office.

*NEW SESSION* Community Action Training starts again on Tuesday January 21st 2014. For more information or to register please contact Samantha Davidson at 613- 267-6428 ext. 4 or email

Do you want the latest in how to protect your lake? Want to learn how to get your lake residents involved and get them helping too? Then come on out to the 12th annual Lake Links Workshop in Perth, Oct. 19 from 9-3:30 at the Perth Civitan Club, 6787 County Rd 43 and we'll show you how.

As in the past we've got our usual line up of lake facts and updates of activities in the area, including the who's who and the what's what of lake issues. But this year we have something more, something big.

This year will be extra exciting for our audience as we are thrilled that Angus McAllister (of Angus Opinion Research fame) will be joining us. He'll be sharing his 25+ years of experience surveying public opinion on the environment and other issues. He'll be offering up ideas and actions on how our local lake associations can reach and engage lake residents – i.e. the ones that are REALLY responsible for protecting the health of their lake. He's knowledgeable, funny and entertaining. And he's coming to Perth.

Everyone knows is can be a struggle to get people out to help on your committee, create your newsletter, attend meetings, get involved in the latest stewardship program to help protect that water quality that everyone keeps saying is their number one concern on their lake. Angus promises to give us some insight into who our lake residents and users are, what makes them tick, what interests them and what motivates them to change.

While this workshop is geared toward lake stakeholders, any organization, committee or group can benefit from the wealth of knowledge Angus will share regarding knowing your audience and how to get them moving. Everyone should walk away with some new insight, tools, strategies and motivation for getting people to help you help your cause.

Space is limited so register early. To pre-register, please call the Centre for Sustainable Watersheds at 613-264-1244 or email

(be sure to include your name, organization and contact information). Cost is $15 per participant which includes refreshments and a light lunch.

The scenery from the top of Blueberry Mountain is spectacular any time of year, but during the changing of the leaves the panoramic view is absolutely breathtaking. To take advantage of this annual display, the MMLTC will hold its fall colours Nature Walk at Blueberry Mountain on Saturday, October 5th.

The event will include guided hikes for all ages and abilities and the renowned naturalist Grey Owl has promised to make a special appearance. It only takes about 45 minutes for the Blueberry Express walk directly, but leisurely, up the mountain and it's fairly easy walking, with one short steep climb at the very top. The longer Old Cedar Ramble passes through an ancient cedar grove, with one towering cedar estimated over 300 years old. The Budding Naturalist Circuit will provide opportunities for kids to explore the wonders of nature along the way. Following the hike, visitors can assemble to enjoy refreshments, meet other nature lovers and learn a bit about how land trusts can legally protect property for the long term.

In 2009, the Clifford family placed a conservation easement on this 1250 property, now known as cliffLAND, so that it would be forever a protected wilderness property accessible to the public. Already this year, Blueberry Mountain has had over 500 visitors, a growing number of them international. There have even been several marriage proposals at the top! Climbers include an 80-Plus Club and two Kids' Clubs, one for under 12 years old and another for under 5. The tremendous popularity of this beautiful spot resulted in it being voted by county residents as one of the Seven Wonders of Lanark County.

Registration for the Nature Walk begins at 9:30 a.m. on October 5th so that the hike can start at 10 sharp. Since this is a fundraising event, a $10 donation is requested. Children under 12 are free. Cliffland is located at 502 Hills of Peace Rd. near Flower Station in Lanark Highlands. A map is attached. Don't trust your GPS unless you're ready to risk being directed along one of the area's many ATV trails, a pretty rough ride! For more information, call Howard or Jean Clifford at 613-259-3412.

Hi all, You are invited to a celebration of the 2013 autumn equinox at FIELDWORK on the evening of Sunday September 22nd.. There's an oversized EAR sitting in the middle of the FIELDWORK meadow patiently waiting for drummers, dancers and listeners to animate its presence. “Keeping an Ear to the Ground” - an interactive art installation by Sheila Macdonald - features an eardrum that is waiting to be played and waiting for other drummers to bring their own drums and play along with it. We will be creating an irresistible dance beat for all hoopers and dancers.

Come and be part of an event designed to highlight this special evening where everywhere on the globe there's equal day and equal night: a moment of celestial balance. Celebrate this year’s harvest and welcome in our next season, a time of slowing down and appreciating the energy of the summer. Send your messages underground through the eardrum (and your feet) to show gratitude for Mother Earth’s abundance.

There will be a unique fire display, magnificent hooping and dancing to a magnetic beat. Come out and energize our coming fall and winter. Everyone is welcome. The drumming and dancing starts at 7pm at FIELDWORK across the road from 2501 Old Brooke Road. If inclined, bring food to share and to celebrate the harvest (note, no electricity in the field, and bring your own utensils).

Please help pass this along to any who might be interested in coming out and drumming, dancing, hooping, bonfire watching, and getting up to any other pagan antics (within reason:) )! Link is below for details. Directions are on the website also.Camping in the field is welcome for responsible, self-sufficient campers (ie. no running water but there is an outhouse).Event is FREE. Bonfire will happen if conditions permit. Please leave pets at home.Thanks and hope to see you there! Susie http://www.fieldworkproject.com/content/equinox-event-ear

The documentary I AM is the story of a man who had it all until something happened to make him realize he might have it all...wrong. After a near-death experience, Hollywood film director Tom Shadyac (Ace Ventura) decided to spark a conversation around two rarely asked questions: what's wrong with our world and what can we do about it?

And so Shadyac traveled the globe interviewing today's greatest thinkers. And while he may have been filming a documentary, his film reveals a plot twist straight out of a blockbuster movie: scientific proof that we are all connected. By the final scene, it's clear that while he started out asking what's wrong with our world, he ended up discovering what's right with it.

Sunday, September 15, from 9:30 am to 4 pm at the Civitan Hall, 6787 County Rd. 43, in Perth, ON. Susan Chan, program manager at Farms at Work, will provide landowners with ways to attract bees by turning unused or marginal land into habitat for these natural pollinators.Includes a visit to a local farm to see the plan created by Chan.

Mark your calendars for Thursday September 26th! Transition Perth is very excited to be hosting a unique community meeting at the Perth Legion, 26 Beckwith Street East, from 6-9pm. Sponsored by the Town of Perth, the evening will focus on building resilience in Perth and area. Resilience is our ability to respond constructively to changes and challenges in our world.

Imagine everyone being secure, even if oil becomes too expensive to use excessively or if economic uncertainty affects us on a larger scale. Imagine everyone being healthy, even if the cost of food continues to increase or changes in our climate become more pronounced. Imagine everyone being happy, even in light of current downsizing trends or some forms of employment becoming more scarce. Potentially we could create local sources for energy, food security, transportation, and meaningful employment. We could choose to respond constructively to many of these changes and challenges, and celebrate together how our community adapted!

Each of us hold parts of the knowledge, skills, vision, and enthusiasm to secure the future of our community. Together, Let's Talk Resilience on September 26th at the Perth Legion!

Everyone is invited to participate in this engaging and interactive evening. Doors will open at 6pm for a meet and greet and light snacks, with the meeting to follow. Let's share some food, exchange ideas. and explore some potential action plans toward building resilience in Perth and area.

Let's Talk Resilience is hosted by Transition Perth and sponsored by the Town of Perth.

Want to get fresh with a local farmer? The first annual Lanark County Harvest Festival will give everyone a chance to do just that!

The new outdoor event, slated for Sunday, Sept. 8 at Beckwith Park (1319, 9th Line, Beckwith), will celebrate the county’s bounty of the harvest featuring local producers, food seminars, children’s activities and workshops, local musicians and more. The festival will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is a collaboration of several local groups, including Lanark Local Flavour, Lanark County Farmers’ Markets, the Lanark County Agricultural Advisory Committee, the Township of Beckwith and Lanark County. The program includes food seminars featuring “The Mushroom Man” of Lanark County, Scott Perrie of Valley Wild Edibles, who will present information about foraging for local mushrooms, berries, nuts and wild leeks. Other food related workshops will include topics on garlic, herbal remedies and tinctures, Slow Food, beekeeping, apples, maple syrup etc.; the renowned “Bowes Brothers” musical entertainment; and children’s activities, such as a petting zoo, bouncy castle, face painting, and much more. There are still spaces for vendors.

The Table Community Food Centre (formerly the Perth & District Food Bank) invites you to our second annual summer benefit, showcasing the best of local farmers and chefs...set to music. Updates with a list of chefs and bands to come, please check back for details!

On Saturday, August 24th at Ecotay, a historic farm just 10 minutes west of Perth there will be a magical, moveable feast of local foods, prepared by 5 chefs including The Table's Judy Dempsey

Tickets sold in advance at Tickets Please on Foster St. www.ticketsplease.ca. 'Join' the event and you will receive updates on when tickets will go on sale - last year they sold out fast!

The Perth 200th Anniversary Panel is hosting a 50’s Dance as a fundraiser for the many activities we have planned for 2016. Freddy Vette and the Flames bring their music to the Crystal Palace on Friday July 12th for a dance starting at 8:30 p.m.

This show captures the excitement, the electricity, and the sheer FUN of ground-zero for Rock & Roll, the 1950's. Wailing sax, thumping stand-upbass, every song an instant sing-along for the audience. At more than 50 years old, Freddy Vette & the Flames help keep rock & roll lookingeighteen and fabulous! Welcome to The Ultimate 50's Rock & Roll Show!

Tickets are $25.00 in advance or $30.00 at the door and are available at the Town Hall, Perth Visitor Information Centre or at Shadowfax in downtown Perth. You can also purchase tickets online at www.shadowfax.on.ca. I also have tickets available here if you want to contact me directly (613-267-5340). Come early and join us for a BBQ from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Held under the authority of a Special Occasions Permit.

Please circulate this notice to your friends and family. Hope to see you there!

This amazing convergence features 3 days and over 35 presentations and workshops on permaculture! Come connect with the permaculture community, and enjoy the food and camping! This event brings permaculturists from all over northeast North America.

Check out the program! Members from the Perth-based Permaculture Institute of Eastern Ontario will be presenting and sharing their knowledge and experience with the wider community :) We hope you'll join us!

In an effort to reach more folks in the community, they've extended their Work Exchange application due date to Tuesday, July 2 at 9:00am. You can download more details and the application form here. Everyone is welcome to apply.

Every Saturday from 8am to 1 pm, get your Henna on at Agapé Gardens stall at the Perth Farmer's Market. All funds raised go towards creation of the AGAPE CHILDREN'S GARDEN! A magical place where children reconnect with nature and have loads of fun: - playing in a strawbale maze - building forts - planting seeds - creating their own nature books - pressing flowers - collecting seeds - planting loads and loads of activities to ignite a passion for nature in children's hearts!

Henna is a natural product that simply stains your hands for a week or two. We ask for a contribution $10-20 sliding scale.

Welcome to our 3rd Veggie Garden Tour! We invite you to visit the gardens on your own, to bike or carpool with friends, or to join a carpool at the community potluck lunch. A host will be present at most gardens to show folks around and answer questions.

PLEASE NOTE THE TIMES THE GARDENS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC (eg. some are morning only, some are afternoon only, some are all day). Click here for a printable version of the garden descriptions.

Go to http://goo.gl/maps/0cvoH to view a map of the garden locations. (Click on each blue "balloon" for more details; you can zoom in and out on the map with the + and - signs on the left).

The garden tours are free. Donations to Transition Perth are welcome.

IN TOWN

The Table Community Food Centre, Communi-Tay Gardens - 10am to 12pm

At The Table we bring people together to grow, cook, and advocate for good food. We have a total of 8500 sq ft. of garden space in which we grow organically and communally. We grow together, learn together and harvest together, sharing the produce among garden members, our Good Food Bank, community meals, community kitchens, and our after school program. Our gardens include raised beds, a 12’x12’ hoop house, a 3-bin compost system, and container plants.

Directions: We have two gardens...

We have a 500 sq ft. backyard garden located at 190 Gore Street East, Perth. Walk down the laneway to the back of the building.

We have 8000 sq ft. of garden space in Last Duel Campground, at the back of the park, near South Street in Perth.

If you are driving please park in the Boat Dock parking lot (accessed by Craig St. or Brock St.) or at the end of South Street.

Access from Craig St. and Brock St (Boat Dock area).: Walk or bike along the park road and through the gates to the campground. Then follow the middle gravel road until you see the garden.

Access from South St.: At the end of South St. you will see a gravel entry way to the campground. Enter the campground there and the garden will be on your right.

Just Christine's Garden - 10am to 3pm

125 Peter Street, Perth

A few different techniques I am experimenting with... Planting directly into straw bales with and without using topsoil. Breaking open straw bales and planting on top of that with topsoil dressing. And raised beds. The foods I have planted are garlic, onions, tomatoes, squash, beans, beets, chard, kale, potatoes, carrots, asparagus, mustard greens and some herbs.

Perthworks - 1pm to 3pm

58 Cockburn Street, Perth

This small xeriscaped lot backing onto a commonly owned green space is part of the Perthworks new eco-housing community. Features an approximately 60-40% mix of food and flowers, multiple rain barrels at all downspouts which are also used for compost tea, a 3-level food forest, lots of vertical trellising, and an all-season solar cold frame as examples the of permaculture approach.

Sébastien and Bonita's Garden - Permaculture Site

Guided Permaculture Tours: 10am and 1:30pm

Open to Public: 10am to 12pm; 1pm to 3pm

28 Church Street, Perth

Join us for an inspiring and educational visit of the semi-urban garden of two permaculture teachers on 1/5 of an acre of land. Learn about different ways to grow your own food and the "why's" behind the design. This land and garden in "year 3" of a permaculture design features: a young food forest, sheet-mulching, mounded beds, a hugelkultur bed, a portable mini-hoop house, floating row covers, various trellises with simple materials, outdoor compost, worm compost, and a black-walnut plant guild. If you are interested in hearing about the permaculture design for this land, join us for the "guided permaculture tour", which will include a description of the zones, sectors, the plant guilds and the "why" behind the techniques used. Last year these guided tours were full, drawing people from all over Eastern Ontario!

Beckwith Gardens - 1pm to 3pm

85 Beckwith Street

A rather big backyard garden featuring a combination of raised beds and more conventional rows using companion planting. The garden is filled with a wide variety of vegetables and herbs grown naturally with the help of compost and green manures and without pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

OUTSIDE OF TOWN

Bob and Parmatma's Garden - 10am to 12pm

280 Brooke Valley Road, Brooke Valley

In front we have a small flower and herb garden close to the house. It has oregano, marjaram, thyme, chives, cilantro, basil and dill intermixed with a variety of flowers which are shades of purple, pink and yellow. Coming out of the parking lot, there are paths down to the large vegetable garden. We have an eleven foot fence around our garden which is 25 feet by 75 feet. The first four feet of the fence is still 2 by 2 heavy-gauge wire fencing and the rest is deer fencing which the deer cannot see very well. If the deer cannot see the top of the fence they will not try to jump it. A deer can jump 9 feet from standing. Our land is teaming with deer but we have not had a problem since putting up this fence. We have permaculture areas where the relationship of the layers of soil are not disturbed from year to year which have perennials in it allowed to go to seed. But the larger part of the garden is turned over with a single-furough plough and disc each year (could as easily be done with rotatiller) and sheep manure is put in each year either in the spring or fall. We have garlic started from both seed and clove. It is a clay loam garden which did very well in last year's drought because it held the moisture well. We also have five apple trees and one pear. Four of the apple trees are making apples this year. We put wooden pallets around them to keep the deer out and it works well. We also have another unfenced garden about 40 by 15 feet which has three things in it which the deer mostly avoid unless there is absolutely nothing else to eat: potatoes, onions and garlic. This garden is lush. The soil is more sandy loam, good for potatoes: well-drained so potatoes don't rot in ground.

We had two bee hives last year which both lasted two years (top bar hives) which died this spring. When we first bought them they had mites but by the second year using sustainable natural methods, they hardly had any mites (it was not mites that killed them. They had built up a huge amount of honey and the queens became honey-bound and were not able to lay. This is avoidable by using framed top bar hives, which I plan to do next year.

Directions: About 12 minutes west of Perth on Highway 7 towards Maberly (5 minutes past Wemyss), turn left onto Old Brooke Rd. (there is a green highway sign on right). Take the first left so that you will then be on Brooke Valley Rd. Eight-tenths of a kilometer, we are on the right hand side.

Lanark Ecovillage - 10am to 3pm

2799 McDonalds Corners Rd.

In cold climates, it has long been the custom to build homes with a heating system. A home without such a system would be seen as incomplete. As transport fuels become expensive, a home built without a food supply will be considered incomplete.

Toward the goal of a perpetual food supply, three gardeners at present, share 9000 sq. ft. of garden space fenced in for food production. We have also built the infrastructure for full cycle nutrient management, so that the majority of the nutrients that are present in our soil and our food can be cycled, on site, for the long-term future.

Directions: 2.5 km west of the Village of Lanark on the left hand (South) side of the road. Beware GPS instructions; they often send you a km. too far toward McDonalds Corners and ask you to turn into a swamp. (Don't do it.) Look for a big jump in the PINumbers. They are 200+ in the Village and then jump to 2000+ when you get past the Village limits. We are not far.

An educational food site of beauty and diversity. Our mission is to develop a socially innovative rural hub where people can collectively share in the origins of food, and unite in the care of community and the Earth. This 8 acre property and gardens are in the first Phase of a holistic permaculture design, embracing both small-scale and large -scale solutions (Holzer Agro ecology). This is a unique opportunity to see the beginning of a sustainable system where food will grow in abundance and natural design. Also, visitors will see the inception of a Yurt, Collaborative Garden and Children's Garden. Dasha and Sebastien Armand have many years of experience growing food, building communities and working with children. Certified in Permaculture with Bill Mollisson and Geoff Lawton, in 2013 the couple began their certification in Agro Ecology with the rebel farmer Sepp Holzer. This tour will be a real treat for food and garden enthusiasts alike, their families and children! www.agapegardens.ca 613-552-2782

Directions: From Perth take North st, continue over rail tracks, travel 6 minutes until you come to a bend, Drummond Concession is an offshoot of the main road. If you see VW Scotty's on your left, turn around as you just missed the dirt road off shoot. The land is the third lot on the right with a large shedding the front.

Little Stream Bakery Garden - 10am to 3pm

667 Glen Tay Road, Glen Tay

The garden supplies some ingredients to the bakery ( carrots for carrot cake & basil for pesto rolls) but the main purpose is to demonstrate edible landscaping and to show passers by that food is beautiful but big lawns are boring. Pretty simple lower maintenance veggies in rows: carrots, corn, beans, basil, peas and garlic usually some green manure but too much rain this year. Rich clay loam and hand watered. This year 40 to 50 each peppers and tomatoes to be used in a big batch of salsa cooked at the bakery.

We grow a full variety of garden vegetables and herbs in 2 large gardens located near our house and using a simple hoophouse to extend our season. We use sheep manure and compost to add organic material and fertility to the soil and we plant vegetables in each garden that are suited to their microclimate and soil conditions. We garden simply and try to keep the work to a minimum.

Directions: On Googlemaps it is called Line Rd 1; even though it does not locate our address correctly, it is the right road.

McIntyre Creek Farm - 1pm to 3pm

934 6th Concession, Bathurst Ward, Tay Valley Township

We have 3 gardens growing a traditional variety of vegetables using organic style methods of our own well rotted manure and compost. We till between the rows which make for easy weeding and harvesting. We also stagger our seeding so fresh produce is available all summer and late into the fall.

Directions:

-Go west on highway 7 from Perth to Harper Road, turn right

-Go past Kiwi Gardens and take next left on the 6th Concession

-We are the second place on the left. -Our driveway is 1 km long so just keep going!

COMMUNITY POTLUCK - 12PM

Join us for a community potluck lunch in the park. Share some fabulous food, and connect with friends and neighbours. Meet up with others to carpool, or visit the gardens on your own. Meet at The Table community garden at the Last Duel Campground.

Directions: Last Duel Campground, at the back of the park, near South Street in Perth.

If you are driving please park in the Boat Dock parking lot (accessed by Craig St. or Brock St.) or at the end of South Street.

Access from Craig St. and Brock St (Boat Dock area).: Walk or bike along the park road and through the gates to the campground. Then follow the middle gravel road until you see the garden.

Access from South St.: At the end of South St. you will see a gravel entry way to the campground. Enter the campground there and the garden will be on your right.

This event is hosted by Transition Perth and the Permaculture Institute of Eastern Ontario.

I have been thinking of starting a gift circle here in Perth for a while and thought it would be great to do it through Transition Perth.

A gift circle is a group of people who come together regularly to help each other, and share their needs and services. People share their services and help as a gift, without expectation of anything in return.

What kinds of things do people share in a gift circle? Most gift circles share services mainly. These could range from anything like company on a hike, a haircut, a ride to Ottawa, empathy, a meditation buddy, help making business cards…

We will be starting our gift circle together and shaping it the way we all want. It will be a beautiful experiment in local gift economy, right here in Perth! :)

An attentive crowd of over one hundred including half of Perth's Town Council filled the Perth Legion Hall on April 15 to hear from local politicians and environmental authorities about climate change in our area, specifically on what can and needs to be done. The event was organized by the Perth Canadian Federation of University Women in collaboration with the Friends of the Tay Watershed Association and moderated by Lynn Preston from the Centre for Sustainable Watersheds.

The five panelists, left to right: Jackie Oblak, Bruce Reid, Paul Lehman, Lanark County Warden Bill Dobson and Mayor John Fenik.

Environmental Consultant Jackie Oblak emphasized that climate change is an indisputable reality, and that actions that are both remedial (to avoid adding more climate change contribu-tors) and adaptive (to manage what is already happening), will decrease our vulnerability and increase resilience, so both are absolutely essential. She also stressed that widespread collabora-tive efforts by all government agencies and conservation authorities, industries, business and local organizations and individuals are needed.

Citing the Lake Simcoe climate change plan as a possible model for this area, Jackie explained that "what is unique about this plan is the level of protection that has been mandated by the Lake Simcoe Protection Act passed in 2008 by the Ontario government. It identifies short and long term priorities, includes targets, (setting for example a goal of 90% storm-water retention for that area), indicators and policies with the objective of promoting natural systems resilience in the entire Lake Simcoe ecosystem."

She added, "Locally, we need to focus on protecting natural corridors and linkages as the cli-mate changes, supporting biodiversity and healthy ecosystems, practicing water conservation, protecting water quality and making wise land use choices. Such sustainable options can be considered 'no regret' actions as beginning steps in adaptation and will be good investments for our future."

Mississippi Valley Conservation's Paul Lehman outlined similar challenges, emphasizing that "the science is clear, and local leadership and action are critically needed because climate change is an economic, social and environmental issue."

He said that while we can expect up to 10% more precipitation over the next century, due to increased heat and then evapotransportation, there will likely be 25% less water available to replenish lakes, streams and aquifers. And despite a lack of political direction and support from our federal government, both conservation authorities are working together to identify potential vulnerabilities to begin to address the challenges brought to us by climate change locally.

Lanark Warden Bill Dobson is an organic beef farmer who respects the importance of whole ecosystems protection. He mentioned concerns about climate-change-related damage to local maple syrup production and to local farming from increased flooding and droughts. "With this past summer's drought, farmers from out West donated many bales of hay but the actual transportation costs worked out to $350 per round bale." He also mentioned that with increased freeze-thaw events as already experienced, there will be more damage to asphalt roads and concrete bridges. Lanark County has an Energy Conservation Committee committed to sharing ideas and best practices, is doing energy audits and decreasing energy usage for a smaller energy footprint.

Perth Mayor John Fenik listed some of the ways the Town has started to make changes includ-ing waste recycling, tree planting and filtering of the alum effluent from the drinking water plant as it enters the Tay River. He also decried the lack of leadership from the federal govern-ment on coping with climate change.

Many meeting participants indicating their clear understanding of what needs to be done about climate change .

Comments from the audience included concern about the lack of storm-water treatment in Perth, the high number of local lakes and rivers that are choked with vegetation — "is it edible?" — the and the need for better monitoring of ground water levels and wells.

Transition Perth's Bonita Ford asked: "So how many of us now have a clear idea of what needs to be done about climate change?" Many attendees raised their hands and over fifty followed up by leaving their contact information so as to be kept in the loop about future initiatives on climate change and/or to help with the formation of a local climate change action network for an official plan of our own.

Peggy Land, CFUW Environment Committee Chair closed the event by noting that "it will take the efforts of all of us and more to come up with an official climate action plan anything like the Lake Simcoe watershed, an 82 page document.

She added, "Right now, all we have in our 2012 Lanark Sustainable Community Official Plan under climate change is one line that says 'opportunity for collaboration with local partners.' This plan is only reviewed every five years."

However, with such strong interest shown at the meeting in working together, the goal of an official climate change action plan for this area is one step closer.

Hunger Awareness Week runs from May 6th – 10th this year. The CFC has organized several events throughout the week to inform community members young and old about the real culprit behind hunger; poverty.

The Table is kicking off the week with a challenge put out to several high profile community members; to live for 5 days on a hamper from the Good Food Bank. On May 6th challenge takers will meet at the Good Food Bank to collect a 3- 5 day supply of food. The rules are easy; challenge takers can make use of any of the free community meals available in and around town and can use up to 5 staples from their pantry (flour, cooking oil, sugar etc.). They may NOT accept free meals from friends and family or eat anywhere where they are required to pay for their food or drink. If they follow the rules can they make the hamper stretch for a full five days? To hear more about the challenge, listen in on Lake 88.1 on Tuesday May 7th at 5:30 PM and on Monday May 13th at 4:30 PM.

Also happening on Monday May 6th, the Table CFC is pleased to host a visit with Senator Hugh Segal. Listen in on Lake 88.1 at 4:30 PM as the Senator discusses his visit to Perth and then join us at the Table for a community meal with the Senator. After dinner it is on to the P.D.C.I auditorium at 13 Victoria St. where Mr. Segal will discuss poverty and income disparity in Canada from 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM, doors open at 6:30 PM. This event is free and open to all community members.

On Thursday May 9th the Table is running a school event with over 100 grade 5 students. Students from St. John's Elementary, Queen Elizabeth, and the Stewart School will be meeting at the Crystal Palace for an eye opening lunch and fun, educational, activities that will shed a light on poverty and hunger. Keep an eye out for the students as they leave the Crystal Palace at 1:30 bearing handmade signs promoting good food for all.

On Friday May 10th the Table CFC is screening the movie "A Place at the Table". From the makers of Food Inc. this brand new documentary explores the connection between hunger and poverty. This event is free and open to all everyone. Movie time is 7:30 PM.

Finally on Saturday May 11th the Peer Advocates are hosting another FREE clothing giveaway from 10:00 - 12:00 at the Table, 190 Gore St. East. For more information on how you can donate please call 613-267-6428 ext. 29

Enhancing administration, communications, and fundraising within the non-profit sector

Promoting collaboration and community-building within the environmental sector

Sponsoring and supporting projects in partnership with members on environmental themes and sustainability including capacity-building, environmental education, green economy and energy, eco-tourism, and other initiatives

Centre for Sustainable Watersheds (CSW) is committed to offering fresh ways to meet the challenges of engaging and helping shoreline owners across the country enhance and protect the health of their lakes and rivers.

Sacred Economics traces the history of money from ancient gift economies to modern capitalism, revealing how the money system has contributed to alienation, competition, and scarcity, destroyed community, and necessitated endless growth.Today, these trends have reached their extreme - but in the wake of their collapse, we may find great opportunity to transition to a more connected, ecological, and sustainable way of being.

The Sustainability Project / 7th Generation Initiative is an educational, non-profit organization that exists to collect, study, develop and teach ideas, information, technologies and customs that promote green values and lead toward a sustainable future.

Their website offers a free mini-course with material on cultural evolution, particularly as it applies to the shift toward a sustainable future. It consists of 11 short article or videos, delivered one a week.

The people at the Worm Factory work with regional non profit organizations as a green solution to waste management. They provide worm composting kits to local educational programs, and have provided outreach to local waste management programs, conservation authorities, and public schools.

The Perth and District Chamber od Commerce "Cycling Committee" has created maps of cycling routes ranging from 10-93km for beginner to advanced cyclists. While promoting health and fitness, and cycling as a wonderful means of transportation, these routes also showcase the many lakes and rivers, rolling farmlands, wetlands, and forests that are found in abundance in the area.

A Town of Perth waste management program. The website provides information on GreenBins and composting, Blue and Yellow Box recycling, pick up schedules, waste and landfill site locations and hours of operation.

Addressing the need for reducing landfill volume, and inspired by the success of the MacDonalds Corners reuse center, a few energetic Perth ladies spear headed advocating for a reuse site located at the GlenTay landfill. With recent funding from the Perth Community Foundation, EcoPerth, and Valley Heartland, the newly established Reuse Center includes household items, clothing, bicycles, and some building materials for drop off, and available for reuse. The Reuse Center is currently seeking volunteers for sorting items and setting up a new building onsite.Contact: glentayreuse [at] gmail [dot] com

CFUW is an organization that wants to change the world and is emerging as a leader amongst women's groups in Canada and Internationally. We have the ability to reach government representatives of all parties which is a feature that few women's organizations possess. We respond to many opportunities for advocacy. Equality; Poverty and Food Security; Housing and Homelessness; Violence against Women; Rights of the Child, Child care and early learning; Advocating for a better world for women and girls and Environmental issues such as Anti Idling, The Power of Local Food; Treasuring the Tay; Youth and Opiate Addiction.

Friends of the Tay Watershed is a non profit, charitable organization founded in 2001 dedicated to preserving and enhancing the health of the Tay watershed by educating the community and promoting coordination between other watershed management organizations. Some of the numerous works the Friends are involved with include the publication of pamphlets and booklets available at the Friends information booths during many local festival events, playing host to the annual Watershed Discovery Day event, and the granting of a local Watershed Guardian Scholorship. The Friends also host a Paddle the Tay Day during warm weather

EcoPerth is a not for profit organization with a strong focus on creating local projects to move the Perth community from "awareness to action on climate change". The many projects EcoPerth has created to date include an annual spring tree sale, a water saver program, rain barrel, solar hot water, and solar P.V programs, schoolyard and front yard naturalization and shading projects, as well as the creation of Lanark Local Flavour. EcoPerth also organizes on behalf of local farmers, practical skill related workshops on many interesting topics such as seed saving, root cellar building, small flock laying hens, and the like.

The Perth Farmers Market was created in June 1992 in light of a joyful resurgence of community spirit, and an interest in naturally grown local food production. Located at the Crystal Palace alongside the scenic Tay Basin, local growers as well as crafts vendors offer their products every Saturday from 8a.m to 1p.m from Mothers Day weekend to Thanksgiving weekend. Special events such as cooking demo's, cooking contests, music, and more often take place as well. In July and August a smaller market runs Wednesday's from 2-6pm in the same location. The Perth Farmers Market also hosts a seed swap and sale every spring.

The Table Community Food Center is a non-profit, community run agency serving Perth residents as a local food bank, a community kitchen, and an education center. The programs offered include an advocacy service office,a barter board service, dads and kids cooking, and healthy food for babies classes, and an after school program. The Table runs a community garden in the summer months, providing hands on gardening education, as well as fresh produce for use in the community kitchen and the food bank.

ORGANIC GRAIN PRODUCTION, "JUST IN TIME" PROCESSING AND DIRECT SALES Maberly led by George Wright, Castor River Farm, Metcalfewww.castorriverfarm.ca

George, his partner Kim and their family organically grow a very wide range of grains including oats, wheat, spelt, buckwheat, triticale, rye, barley, flax, mustard on their small farm located in Metcalfe. These are sold at an Ottawa Farmers' Market and from their farm store. George will talk about how they source seed, grow, harvest, mill various grains into products people can't live without.

CCCR is committed to crafting solutions and adaptations to the critical challenges stemming from climate change and peak oil. Our priority is working with communities to increase their resilience, especially their capacity to equitably meet their needs for food, energy, finance, and shelter. Employing a wide range of organizing, planning and enterprise ownership formats, CCCR emphasizes strengthening the self-reliance of local and regional economies as a key task of transition.

Shareable is the online magazine that tells the story of sharing. We cover the people and projects bringing a shareable world to life. And share how-tos so you can make sharing real in your life.

In a shareable world, things like car sharing, clothing swaps, childcare coops, potlucks, and cohousing make life more fun, green, and affordable. When we share, not only is a better life possible, but so is a better world.

The remarkable successes of sharing projects like Zipcar, Wikipedia, Freecycle, Kiva, and Creative Commons show this. They tell a hopeful story about human nature and our future, one we don't hear enough in the mainstream media.

They show what’s possible when we share. They show that we don't act merely for our own good, but go out of our way to contribute to the common good. They show that we can solve the crises we face, and thrive as never before. They show that a new world is emerging where the more you share the more respect you get, and where life works because everyone helps each other.

We tell this story because a shareable world might be just what's needed to enjoy life to the fullest today while creating a better tomorrow. And it's being built by people from all walks of life right now. Shareable is an invitation to join these everyday innovators.

YES! Magazine reframes the biggest problems of our time in terms of their solutions. Online and in print, we outline a path forward with in-depth analysis, tools for citizen engagement, and stories about real people working for a better world.

Powerful Ideas, Practical Actions

Today’s world is not the one we want—climate change, financial collapse, poverty, and war leave many feeling overwhelmed and hopeless.

YES! Magazine empowers people with the vision and tools to create a healthy planet and vibrant communities. We do this by:

Reframing issues and outlining a path forward;

Giving a voice to the people who are making change;

Offering resources to use and pass along

YES! Magazine is printed on 100% post-consumer waste, chlorine-free paper. We reach more than 150,000 readers quarterly. More than 140,000 people visit our website each month, where we post new stories every day.

The Perth and District Canadian Federation of University Women in collaboration with the Friends of the Tay Watershed Association presents: Local Perspectives on Climate Change: A Call to Action!

15 April, 2013 from 7:30 to 9:30 PM at the Royal Canadian Legion, 26 Beckwith Street East, Perth, Ontario. Doors open at 7 PM

Inspired by the communities in the Lake Simcoe Watershed who worked cooperatively together to produce a ground-breaking climate change action plan, this forum will start the dialogue to include citizens, politicians and environmental authorities in Lanark County. Find out what can be done on a local level to reduce climate change contributors and what must be done to prepare for the impacts of climate change.

Join us at kricklewood Farm for a Sunday afternoon of soapmaking! Using the cold process method, we combine goat milk, a variety of fats, lye, herbs and essential oils to give a high quality all natural bar of soap. This is a hands-on worskhop with small groups making their own batch of soap. All workshops begin with a lesson in hand milking so bring along your rubber boots! Sessions begin at 1:00 pm and run approximately 3-4 hours. Classes are small and cost is $35 tax included. To sign up, complete the form on our workshops page.

Other workshops scheduled for April 14th and 21st, see a complete listing at

Permaculture is an eco-logical approach to design based on observing nature. It can be applied to physical systems (eg. farms, gardens, cities) and to social systems (eg. organisations, businesses) anywhere.

This course will be held at the instructors' own site, which has been designed using permaculture. This is an excellent opportunity to learn firsthand on the site.

Course Fee: $180 includes HST. The class hours and a $180 credit can be applied towards the full Permaculture Design Course offered by the Permaculture Institute of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa in fall 2013.

A great introduction to establishing an orchard, rejuvenating an old one, or maintaining small trees around your yard!

Hosted by Diane Falvey of Stony Brae Farm, and facilitated by Joanna Kowalcyk, a Niagara Parks trained horticulturist and certified arbourist, this workshop will create a space to learn both the 'how's and the 'why's' of pruning through discussion and hands-on demonstrations. It will cover pruning techniques, safety, pruning tools and their maintenance.

Lanark Local Flavour works to link local farmers to local eaters, expand capacity and access to sustainably produced food, inform the public about food issues, and to celebrate the people who grow our food. This site will help you find growers and buyers of local food, including Farmers' Markets, Farm Gate sales, CSAs, as well as restaurants, bakeries, and retailers who make the effort to source local food. So browse and enjoy!